What Factors Make Football Programs Successful?

I’m sure there are many factors that make a program successful. But what is the biggest factor for success? Is it talent? Coaching? Parents? How about commitment? Scheme? Weight training? Money?

Is there one factor that stands out? Let’s here your opinions.

I personally think that it is coaching. High school football more than any sport relies on good solid coaching. How else can you explain programs being consistent winners? Great coaches usually are knowledgeable, respected and committed.

One coach that comes to mind for me is Eric Redmond. For years Airport struggled in football. It wasn’t until Redmond arrived that the Jets tasted success. Did the Jets suddenly find talent? We may need to wait a few years before we really know. If Monroe starts to experience success and Airport starts to stumble I think we will have our answer.

Another example was Larry Dugan at Flat Rock. Dugan was the Monroe County Region coach of the decade for the 1970’s with a State title and 3 league championships. The 80’s started where the 70’s left off with 13 wins in 2 years before Dugan abruptly left. The Rams have only experienced winning seasons 6 times in the last 29 seasons with no league titles.

I’m sure there are other factors but coaching is #1 on my list. What are your thoughts?

24 thoughts on “What Factors Make Football Programs Successful?”

  1. Coaching is important, however, you have to have talent also and in football, numbers are importanat to get a good look and have good practices.
    Football is different than other sports, In basketball, one dominant kid will win many games for you. In baseball or softball, one dominant pitcher will win many games for you. In football, you may have the greatest QB in the state, if there is nothing around him, you will never hear about him.
    ALSo, preperation and backing by your school adm. etc. is huge. Football is 1 big event per week. That is why many smaller schools can actully compete against bigger schools in other sports, but in football, it can be dangerous and in most cases, the smaller school will have problems.
    Many things are important to winning, and include:
    Coaching, with consistency of coaches.
    School adm. backing.
    Size of school compared to others in your league or schedule.
    Off season programs.
    Number of players.
    School history.
    Costs, fundraising, pay to participate fees.

    F

  2. Yes thank you mr. Stat keeper as well!!! Everybody was in a slump just wondering about who has won more SMCC/Airport so thanks and I'm sure you are looking forward to the game this year so you can make that stat even more accurate!

  3. Congratulations Mr. Stat keeper on the Airport/SMCC game history. I bet that makes you feel just a little more worthy in this world, dosen't it? Keep up the good work! Looking foward to your reports. Anything to pet your ego!

  4. I HIT, YOU DONT

    The squirrel doing the "count down" has it all wrong! Hitting starts June 18th at Bedford High School. Appearantly he isn't involved in "hitting" anything but his keyboard.

  5. Airport is 9-41 vs MCC/SMCC since 1950.

    However over the last ten years they are 4-6, not bad considering. It has become a pretty good and heated rivalry since Redmond(Ex CC guy, sorry had to throw that in there) got there. CC has won the last 5 of 6 including last year when many thought Airport was the team to beat. This year should be another good game and I am looking forward to it.

  6. Just by bringing the Fullhouse T to Summitt will improve their record greatly. RSA will be a playoff team most every year Rob is there. write it down.

  7. Honestly, I hope CC doesnt trash talk. Just get it done on the field and let the others do the talking.
    -BN

  8. Yes coach reed always had some stuff to say during CC week!
    Watch now here comes all the hate comments on CC beating Airport all because we are bringing up a coach from the Jets.
    Calling it!

  9. Haha, he always mixed up words when he got fired up. Funny as all hell. Can't remember anyones real name, just the made up name that he calls them. Good guy though thats for sure.

    j.w.

  10. We shall see if it goes further, going into the blood line. Coach Rob Beaudrie is the nephew of Larry Dugan, he was at Grosse Ile (assistant), a team that went 1-8/2-7 and then back to back playoff seasons, then went to SMCC for 7 years (assitant), 2 State-Runner-Ups, 5 Regional Championships and over 70 wins. While also being an assistant coach on the State Championship Volleyball team at SMCC. Is this all luck or right place at right time? Or is it Great Coaches finding great assistant coaches? Jack Giarmo and Diane Tuller can answer that question. I hope he brings this "luck, some would say" to Summit Academy where he is now the AD and Head Football Coach. Luck or no luck, his work is cut out for him, we shall see if he can turn our program around with his COACHING.

  11. Coaching is huge. What is the number one reason players even come out for football? They enjoy it. It's fun.

    I was a senior for Airport during the 05' season, and Redmond was always tough on everyone. However, he always told us to have fun before every game, and at half time. Our practices were hard dont get me wrong, but the coaches always made it fun. Plus it was kinda impossible to NOT laugh at Coach Reed when he got all fired up.

    j.w.

  12. the numbers are count down til hitting time =]

    Anywho, I think its mainly Coaching and the heart of the players. You can have the greatest coaching in the world, but if the players you are coaching don't have the heart to give it all they got, then that coaching goes down the drain. But if you have alot of heart in your players, and crappy coaching, then you come into another problem. They both rely on one another.

    KC

  13. You can delete one of those for me Chris thanks… for some reason I thought the other didnt go through.

    bn

  14. All of what you mentioned are big factors and I agree that coaching is the biggest factor. One of the factors you didnt mention is participation. The small quality programs out there, for example, Mendon, TCSF, Hudson all have a huge number of thier boys playing football. Seemingly every upperclassmen is on the football team. Now why is that? This is probably a result of school spirit, an involved coach and the community embracing the football program. One of the first things a new coach will do is talk to the students and try to get as many kids to come out for the team as possible. Its hard to do anything without numbers.

    -BN

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